The Panel's major findings in the 2002 report were that chlorine in the stratosphere was at or near its peak, and that the Montreal Protocol was therefore working; that midlatitude ozone was depleted by about 3 per cent in both hemispheres; that a slow return to pre-ozone-values was expected by about mid--century, although climate change and greenhouse gases might affect the timing and behaviour of the recovery; and that options for accelerating the recovery were limited.
A esa altura era difícil saber si sería posible completar el estudio para la 24ª reunión del Grupo de Trabajo de composición abierta, porque la 15ª Reunión de las Partes no había finalizado su labor, que incluía adoptar decisiones sobre todas las cuestiones que pediría al Grupo de Evaluación Tecnológica y Económica que abordase.